Match recap: Necaxa 1, Tijuana 2

Necaxa dominated most of the game, but an autogol from Brayan Beckeles and a penalty at the death saw Xolos win their fifth of the last six matches across all competitions.

Necaxa came out swinging, playing a fast tempo, high pressing brand of soccer. Most of their offensive play came down their right wing to Brian Fernández, which meant Luis Fuentes and Diego Braghieri making sure he was marked well. In the ninth minute, Ángel Sepúlveda hit a shot from the left wing that goalkeeper Gibran Lajud smacked out to safety.

There was a bit of controversy in the 27th minute when Sepúlveda was shown a straight red card for stomping on the foot of Ignacio Rivero. Referee Jorge Castillo went to VAR, and (rightfully) rescinded his red card in favor of a yellow.

Tijuana was able to adjust to Necaxa’s blitzkrieg, spreading players out to force Necaxa to run ever farther in order to apply pressure. This not only gave Xolos more time to get set but seemed to wear Rayos down over time.

Xolos had a good chance in the 58th when Miller Bolaños found Gustavo Bou parked at the top of the 18 yard box. Bou teed up his shot but goalkeeper Hugo González saw it the whole way and was easily able to gather it.

In the 62nd minute, Necaxa would break through when Brian Fernández chased down a loose ball along the right wing, weaved through traffic, and fired a high hard shot past Gibran Lajud for his seventh goal of the season.

Necaxa would continue to pressure Xolos for another goal. Rodrigo Contreras would smash a scissor kick shot off of the crossbar. But the tide would turn in the 82nd minute when Bolaños hit a cross to Gustavo Bou. Bou’s defender slipped on the turf, and he was able to dribble into the box and rip a shot that clattered off of the far post. The ball would ricochet off of defender Brayan Beckeles and into the goal, drawing Xolos level.

Deep in stoppage time Xolos would be awarded a penalty when a corner kick was adjudged to have been played off of a Rayos player’s hand. “Pantera” Bou would step up and drill home the penalty to give Tijuana the win in the final seconds of the match.

Necaxa will head to Mexico City to face Cruz Azul on Saturday, while Tijuana will host Alebrijes de Oaxaca on Tuesday in Copa MX play before Atlas comes to town on Friday.

Necaxa: Hugo González; Cristian Calderón, Fernando Meza, Alexis Peña, Brayan Beckeles; Pedro Campos, (Ricardo Monréal, 46’) Felipe Gallegos, Fernando González, Brian Fernández; Martín Barragán (Rodrigo Contreras, 58’), Ángel Sepúlveda (Jair Cortés. 71’)

Club Tijuana: Gibran Lajud; Luis Fuentes (Daniel López, 80’), Diego Braghieri, Julián Velázquez, Omar Mendoza; Jesús Angulo, Diego Rodríguez, Ignacio Rivero (Diego González, 80’); Miller Bolaños; Ariel Nahuelpán (Eryc Castillo, 46’), Gustavo Bou

Scoring: Necaxa - Brian Fernández (62’); Tijuana - Brayan Beckeles (autogol, 82’), Gustavo Bou (penal, 90+3’)

Disciplinary: Necaxa - Ángel Sepúlveda (Yellow - 29’), Jair Cortés (Yellow - 90’); Tijuana - None